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Post by jimed14 on May 11, 2017 9:49:10 GMT -5
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Post by rjp313jr on May 11, 2017 10:22:33 GMT -5
Where did you hear the Patriots offer was 1.5 million to Blount? As to tendering him, it's a unique situation. How many players are unsigned this time of year that won't accept the tender? Not many. I didn't, I was just drawing up and example where they Patriots would have "wanted" Blount. There's no way they like him better than Gillisley as a player putting money aside. No chance. |
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Post by digit on May 11, 2017 13:06:21 GMT -5
A. Get ANY guaranteed money from another team B. Even if no guarantee, get a situation where he has a better chance of earning a roster spot. C. He may simply want a bigger role with the way the Patriots have carved up his time and given it to others. Now he's probably more motivated to find a different team because after July his fate is in the Patriots' hands at 1.1 million (and apparently under the terms of last year's contracts, which means 2.1 million -if- he reaches the incentives.) |
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Post by digit on May 11, 2017 14:33:37 GMT -5
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 11, 2017 17:02:00 GMT -5
Was talking about Rips 1.5 million offer, not the tender. |
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 11, 2017 17:11:16 GMT -5
Where did you hear the Patriots offer was 1.5 million to Blount? As to tendering him, it's a unique situation. How many players are unsigned this time of year that won't accept the tender? Not many. I didn't, I was just drawing up and example where they Patriots would have "wanted" Blount. There's no way they like him better than Gillisley as a player putting money aside. No chance. I'm not saying they like him more than Gillislee, but I would think there offer would have been more than 1.5 million. Even at the same money, they still had to give up a pick for Gillislee that they didn't for Blount. I'm not saying that's what they offered either, just making a point because I can't see Blount turning down a 2 year 6.4 million deal. At the same time I can see Blount saying I'm not taking less than Burkhead got, not after 18 TDs. |
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Post by rjp313jr on May 12, 2017 7:06:33 GMT -5
Maybe I can see him saying that too but I don't see the Patriots offering even 2m for what Blount does. 18 TDs is nice and all but in reality it's something that any number of backs could have done in this offense. Without Gronk they emphasized running at the goal line... great but Burkehead offers a lot more to the team with the thought that he can also replicate what Blount did in the running game.
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Post by rjp313jr on May 12, 2017 7:08:10 GMT -5
By the way, Patriots reached an extension agreement with Andrews for 3/9 base with 11m possible. Ups his cap figure this year but over the life having a starting center for under 3m a year is good. I've wanted an upgrade there but you need cheap players some place.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 12, 2017 9:31:16 GMT -5
Come on Gronk played half a season, it's not like he only played one game. Blount is in no way a great player overall, but you're acting like he's no better than an average RB. Just look back two years ago when he got injured and how it killed our running game. They tried a bunch of guys and no one could come close to doing what he does. We had trouble trying to score inside 10 yard line. I still say we beat Denver if Blount was healthy.
Burkhead was brought in to be Bolden's replacement and to add more value to the running and passing game. Just like I thought and everyone wanted to argue I was dead wrong because of what he was getting paid. There really is zero proof that Burkhead could even come close to replicating what Blount did. He has had one game getting major carries. Don't get me wrong I like him, he should be a major upgrade over Bolden.
That's why they brought in Gillislee, he's Blount's replacement. That makes sense, as he is much more proven running the ball. He has also done it in our Division.
Overall I really like our RB depth right now. The thing that drives me crazy is when people act like Blount didn't have a great year. He surely did. He got worn down towards end of year, but he was a beast when it came to getting TDs last year. It's not something that's easy to do, as we've never had a guy get 18 TDs in all the years we've had a great offense. Let's give some credit to Blount and not act like he sucks and that an unproven guy like Burkhead can easily do what he did last year.
One more thing, the Patriots have always liked to run the ball when near the goal line. It's not something they just started doing last year. Even with Gronk out they still had Bennett and he's a major weapon at TE.
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Post by rjp313jr on May 12, 2017 9:53:19 GMT -5
Gronk played 5 games for all intensive purposes.
Blount doesn't suck he's just not great. He was a good piece to the team at short money. But he's very one dimensional and has little to no history of being able to carry a real running game. If the game plan creates mismatches he was great for the team. It was certainly one of the few places they could upgrade tho.
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Post by digit on May 12, 2017 10:30:50 GMT -5
TDs are to RBs like saves are to pitchers. Nice, but they don't tell you anything about how -good- they actually are as players.
Discounting the players' all-around skills in favor of "TDS!!!" is something like, well, thinking Joe Borowski with 45 saves in 2007 is a great relief pitcher (seriously, I've heard someone argue that Borowski's 45 saves made him the best reliever in baseball that year)
Honestly, I'm more excited for Burkhead and Gillislee because with them playing, opposing defenses have to be guessing run or pass, since they can run, receive, and pass-block very well (much more effectively than Blount).
Part of the reasons the Patriots did better in the playoffs with Lewis and White against better defenses was because better defenses can stop the run when they know it's coming, and that's exactly what happens when Blount is in there. He just doesn't have the pass-receiving -or- pass-blocking skills to be effective, so defenses could afford to guess that when he was in there, it was time to play the run.
Having two more like Lewis and White will help more in the playoffs, I think, than Blount will. That's not to say Blount's not a horrible RB, but he's just not all -that-.
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Post by costpet on May 12, 2017 14:07:46 GMT -5
Nice replay of Pats 2004 season on Pats Pulpit website. Seems like yesterday.
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Post by rjp313jr on May 12, 2017 14:11:29 GMT -5
This team reminds me of the 2004 squad in that it should dominate in all phases
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Post by digit on May 12, 2017 14:22:13 GMT -5
Nice replay of Pats 2004 season on Pats Pulpit website. Seems like yesterday. That puzzled me as I didn't see it there till I realized you were talking about something embedded in one of the articles and not an actual article. Man, that Matt Light catch... |
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Post by Coreno on May 12, 2017 15:28:31 GMT -5
Brady on cover of Madden, cancel the season.
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Post by dakotaskye on May 12, 2017 17:01:51 GMT -5
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Post by digit on May 12, 2017 18:42:54 GMT -5
Possible but I doubt he would sign for what's offered, and he seems like a better fit in Cincinnati or Baltimore somehow.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 12, 2017 19:06:49 GMT -5
TDs are to RBs like saves are to pitchers. Nice, but they don't tell you anything about how -good- they actually are as players. Discounting the players' all-around skills in favor of "TDS!!!" is something like, well, thinking Joe Borowski with 45 saves in 2007 is a great relief pitcher (seriously, I've heard someone argue that Borowski's 45 saves made him the best reliever in baseball that year) Honestly, I'm more excited for Burkhead and Gillislee because with them playing, opposing defenses have to be guessing run or pass, since they can run, receive, and pass-block very well (much more effectively than Blount). Part of the reasons the Patriots did better in the playoffs with Lewis and White against better defenses was because better defenses can stop the run when they know it's coming, and that's exactly what happens when Blount is in there. He just doesn't have the pass-receiving -or- pass-blocking skills to be effective, so defenses could afford to guess that when he was in there, it was time to play the run. Having two more like Lewis and White will help more in the playoffs, I think, than Blount will. That's not to say Blount's not a horrible RB, but he's just not all -that-. He had 1,100 plus yards, the 8th most among RBs last year, so it's just not TDs. Again I'm not saying he's great, but he was a good RB. I'm more than happy with Burkhead and Gillislee. It will be interesting to see how they use them. |
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 12, 2017 19:09:01 GMT -5
I don't think we bring in another LB. Last year they played a ton of downs using only two and having Harmon playing. With his new contract I'm not sure that's going to change. It just makes sense in a pass happy league.
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Post by texs31 on May 12, 2017 21:28:59 GMT -5
I also read something after the draft that suggested Rivera might ultimately play LB.
While Collins had crazy athleticism (didn't he play S in college?), Rivers physical measurements are more comparable to him than the typical edge player in their system.
I know so little about Rivers other than predraft articles but it could be something to keep an eye on.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 13, 2017 10:05:36 GMT -5
What are people's thoughts on Matthew Slater? Still a roster lock? I only ask because he's about to be 32 and just had his worst season based on special teams tackles since his rookie year. From 2010 on he was among the leaders in special teams tackles, but he had a big drop off last year. We have since added two players that had more or the same amount of special team tackles. Last year Nate Ebner was the league leader and had a ton more tackles than Slater.
I'm only asking because there is going to be a massive roster crunch this year and I can see one or two surprise cuts. Is it time to pass the torch to Ebner as our special teams ace? With young guys like Jones not far behind.
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Post by rjp313jr on May 13, 2017 15:24:00 GMT -5
What are people's thoughts on Matthew Slater? Still a roster lock? I only ask because he's about to be 32 and just had his worst season based on special teams tackles since his rookie year. From 2010 on he was among the leaders in special teams tackles, but he had a big drop off last year. We have since added two players that had more or the same amount of special team tackles. Last year Nate Ebner was the league leader and had a ton more tackles than Slater. I'm only asking because there is going to be a massive roster crunch this year and I can see one or two surprise cuts. Is it time to pass the torch to Ebner as our special teams ace? With young guys like Jones not far behind. While I agree with where you are coming from, I do think he's pretty close to a lock baring any major drop or injury. He's a team captain and there's no real cap benefit to moving on from him |
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Post by rjp313jr on May 14, 2017 9:12:23 GMT -5
So a bunch of reports that the Patriots were going to take Dan Feeney (guard/center) at 72 but the Chargers took him at 71 so they traded down. They then took Rivers 82 and Garcia 85. If they got Feeney at 72 it's pretty safe to say that they would not have Rivers since they used the picks from the trade down to get to 82 and 85.
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Post by umassgrad2005 on May 14, 2017 10:56:42 GMT -5
I don't understand all this. They had to want Feeney as a center right? We have two really good young guards. If it was as a center it makes sense, but if you wanted to upgrade center then why sign Andrews to extension?
As to Rivers I'm not sure it's clear. There would have been a chance he was there at 96. They also could have moved up a few spots if they wanted too. I'm just glad we got him, but if they loved him so much why not take him at 72? They risked not getting him by trading down in first place.
Edit- Trey Hendrickson would have been there at 96, he was the last of the group of players I thought we needed to get one of them. I'm not really upset though, I really like Rivers.
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Post by rjp313jr on May 14, 2017 11:16:24 GMT -5
Word is it was as a center. They extended Andrews because it was a very team friendly extension and he's clearly starting caliber even if you could upgrade it. Next year his restricted free agent tender would have been just under 3m so the extension makes sense. Freeney also would have given good guard depth in case Thuney doesn't take that step forward we all expect.
By trading down it allowed them to get both Rivers and Garcia so that's why you do that instead of just taking Rivers, plus it's likely they weren't married to just Rivers at that point.
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